1
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Tyrrell EA, Coates PS, Prochazka BG, Brussee BE, Espinosa SP, Hull JM. Wildfire immediately reduces nest and adult survival of greater sage-grouse. Sci Rep 2023; 13:10970. [PMID: 37414751 PMCID: PMC10326004 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-32937-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2022] [Accepted: 04/05/2023] [Indexed: 07/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Wildfire events are becoming more frequent and severe on a global scale. Rising temperatures, prolonged drought, and the presence of pyrophytic invasive grasses are contributing to the degradation of native vegetation communities. Within the Great Basin region of the western U.S., increasing wildfire frequency is transforming the ecosystem toward a higher degree of homogeneity, one dominated by invasive annual grasses and declining landscape productivity. Greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus; hereafter sage-grouse) are a species of conservation concern that rely on large tracts of structurally and functionally diverse sagebrush (Artemisia spp.) communities. Using a 12-year (2008-2019) telemetry dataset, we documented immediate impacts of wildfire on demographic rates of a population of sage-grouse that were exposed to two large wildfire events (Virginia Mountains Fire Complex-2016; Long Valley Fire-2017) near the border of California and Nevada. Spatiotemporal heterogeneity in demographic rates were accounted for using a Before-After Control-Impact Paired Series (BACIPS) study design. Results revealed a 40% reduction in adult survival and a 79% reduction in nest survival within areas impacted by wildfires. Our results indicate that wildfire has strong and immediate impacts to two key life stages of a sagebrush indicator species and underscores the importance of fire suppression and immediate restoration following wildfire events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emmy A Tyrrell
- Western Ecological Research Center, U.S. Geological Survey, Dixon Field Station, 800 Business Park Drive, Suite D, Dixon, CA, 95620, USA
- Department of Animal Sciences, University of California Davis, 2251 Meyer Hall, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | - Peter S Coates
- Western Ecological Research Center, U.S. Geological Survey, Dixon Field Station, 800 Business Park Drive, Suite D, Dixon, CA, 95620, USA.
| | - Brian G Prochazka
- Western Ecological Research Center, U.S. Geological Survey, Dixon Field Station, 800 Business Park Drive, Suite D, Dixon, CA, 95620, USA
| | - Brianne E Brussee
- Western Ecological Research Center, U.S. Geological Survey, Dixon Field Station, 800 Business Park Drive, Suite D, Dixon, CA, 95620, USA
| | - Shawn P Espinosa
- Nevada Department of Wildlife, 6980 Sierra Center Parkway, Reno, NV, 89511, USA
| | - Joshua M Hull
- Department of Animal Sciences, University of California Davis, 2251 Meyer Hall, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
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2
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Chambers JC, Brown JL, Bradford JB, Board DI, Campbell SB, Clause KJ, Hanberry B, Schlaepfer DR, Urza AK. New indicators of ecological resilience and invasion resistance to support prioritization and management in the sagebrush biome, United States. Front Ecol Evol 2023. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2022.1009268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Ecosystem transformations to altered or novel ecological states are accelerating across the globe. Indicators of ecological resilience to disturbance and resistance to invasion can aid in assessing risks and prioritizing areas for conservation and restoration. The sagebrush biome encompasses parts of 11 western states and is experiencing rapid transformations due to human population growth, invasive species, altered disturbance regimes, and climate change. We built on prior use of static soil moisture and temperature regimes to develop new, ecologically relevant and climate responsive indicators of both resilience and resistance. Our new indicators were based on climate and soil water availability variables derived from process-based ecohydrological models that allow predictions of future conditions. We asked: (1) Which variables best indicate resilience and resistance? (2) What are the relationships among the indicator variables and resilience and resistance categories? (3) How do patterns of resilience and resistance vary across the area? We assembled a large database (n = 24,045) of vegetation sample plots from regional monitoring programs and derived multiple climate and soil water availability variables for each plot from ecohydrological simulations. We used USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service National Soils Survey Information, Ecological Site Descriptions, and expert knowledge to develop and assign ecological types and resilience and resistance categories to each plot. We used random forest models to derive a set of 19 climate and water availability variables that best predicted resilience and resistance categories. Our models had relatively high multiclass accuracy (80% for resilience; 75% for resistance). Top indicator variables for both resilience and resistance included mean temperature, coldest month temperature, climatic water deficit, and summer and driest month precipitation. Variable relationships and patterns differed among ecoregions but reflected environmental gradients; low resilience and resistance were indicated by warm and dry conditions with high climatic water deficits, and moderately high to high resilience and resistance were characterized by cooler and moister conditions with low climatic water deficits. The new, ecologically-relevant indicators provide information on the vulnerability of resources and likely success of management actions, and can be used to develop new approaches and tools for prioritizing areas for conservation and restoration actions.
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3
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Chang Y, Bertola LV, Hoskin CJ. Species distribution modelling of the endangered Mahogany Glider (
Petaurus gracilis
) reveals key areas for targeted survey and conservation. AUSTRAL ECOL 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/aec.13266] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Yiyin Chang
- College of Science & Engineering James Cook University Townsville Queensland Australia
| | - Lorenzo V. Bertola
- College of Science & Engineering James Cook University Townsville Queensland Australia
| | - Conrad J. Hoskin
- College of Science & Engineering James Cook University Townsville Queensland Australia
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4
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Dudley IF, Coates PS, Prochazka BG, Davis DM, Gardner SC, Delehanty DJ. Maladaptive nest‐site selection and reduced nest survival in female sage‐grouse following wildfire. Ecosphere 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.4282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Ian F. Dudley
- U.S. Geological Survey Western Ecological Research Center Dixon California USA
- Department of Biological Sciences Idaho State University Pocatello Idaho USA
- California Department of Fish and Wildlife Sacramento California USA
| | - Peter S. Coates
- U.S. Geological Survey Western Ecological Research Center Dixon California USA
| | - Brian G. Prochazka
- U.S. Geological Survey Western Ecological Research Center Dixon California USA
| | | | - Scott C. Gardner
- California Department of Fish and Wildlife Sacramento California USA
| | - David J. Delehanty
- Department of Biological Sciences Idaho State University Pocatello Idaho USA
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5
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Roth CL, O'Neil ST, Coates PS, Ricca MA, Pyke DA, Aldridge CL, Heinrichs JA, Espinosa SP, Delehanty DJ. Targeting Sagebrush (Artemisia Spp.) Restoration Following Wildfire with Greater Sage-Grouse (Centrocercus Urophasianus) Nest Selection and Survival Models. ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2022; 70:288-306. [PMID: 35687203 PMCID: PMC9252971 DOI: 10.1007/s00267-022-01649-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2021] [Accepted: 04/10/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Unprecedented conservation efforts for sagebrush (Artemisia spp.) ecosystems across the western United States have been catalyzed by risks from escalated wildfire activity that reduces habitat for sagebrush-obligate species such as Greater Sage-Grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus). However, post-fire restoration is challenged by spatial variation in ecosystem processes influencing resilience to disturbance and resistance to non-native invasive species, and spatial and temporal lags between slower sagebrush recovery processes and faster demographic responses of sage-grouse to loss of important habitat. Decision-support frameworks that account for these factors can help users strategically apply restoration efforts by predicting short and long-term ecological benefits of actions. Here, we developed a framework that strategically targets burned areas for restoration actions (e.g., seeding or planting sagebrush) that have the greatest potential to positively benefit sage-grouse populations through time. Specifically, we estimated sagebrush recovery following wildfire and risk of non-native annual grass invasion under four scenarios: passive recovery, grazing exclusion, active restoration with seeding, and active restoration with seedling transplants. We then applied spatial predictions of integrated nest site selection and survival models before wildfire, immediately following wildfire, and at 30 and 50 years post-wildfire based on each restoration scenario and measured changes in habitat. Application of this framework coupled with strategic planting designs aimed at developing patches of nesting habitat may help increase operational resilience for fire-impacted sagebrush ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cali L Roth
- U.S. Geological Survey, Western Ecological Research Center, Dixon Field Station, 800 Business Park Drive, Suite D, Dixon, CA, 95620, USA
| | - Shawn T O'Neil
- U.S. Geological Survey, Western Ecological Research Center, Dixon Field Station, 800 Business Park Drive, Suite D, Dixon, CA, 95620, USA
| | - Peter S Coates
- U.S. Geological Survey, Western Ecological Research Center, Dixon Field Station, 800 Business Park Drive, Suite D, Dixon, CA, 95620, USA.
| | - Mark A Ricca
- U.S. Geological Survey, Western Ecological Research Center, Dixon Field Station, 800 Business Park Drive, Suite D, Dixon, CA, 95620, USA
| | - David A Pyke
- U.S. Geological Survey, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center, 777 NW 9th Street, Suite 400, Corvallis, OR, 97330, USA
| | - Cameron L Aldridge
- U.S. Geological Survey, Fort Collins Science Center, 2150 Centre Avenue, Building C, Fort Collins, CO, 80526-8118, USA
| | - Julie A Heinrichs
- Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory, in cooperation with U.S. Geological Survey, Fort Collins Science Center, Colorado State University, 2150 Centre Avenue, Building C, Fort Collins, CO, 80526-8118, USA
| | - Shawn P Espinosa
- Nevada Department of Wildlife, 6980 Sierra Center Parkway #120, Reno, NV, 89511, USA
| | - David J Delehanty
- Department of Biological Sciences, Idaho State University, Pocatello, ID, USA
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6
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Rabon J, Nuñez C, Coates P, Ricca M, Johnson T. Ecological correlates of fecal corticosterone metabolites in female Greater Sage-Grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus). CAN J ZOOL 2021. [DOI: 10.1139/cjz-2020-0258] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Measurement of physiological responses can reveal effects of ecological conditions on an animal and correlate with demographic parameters. Ecological conditions for many animal species have deteriorated as a function of invasive plants and habitat fragmentation. Expansion of juniper (genus Juniperus L.) trees and invasion of annual grasses into sagebrush (genus Artemisia L.) ecosystems have contributed to habitat degradation for Greater Sage-Grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus (Bonaparte, 1827); hereinafter Sage-Grouse), a species of conservation concern throughout its range. We evaluated relationships between habitat use in a landscape modified by juniper expansion and annual grasses and corticosterone metabolite levels (stress responses) in feces (FCORTm) of female Sage-Grouse. We used remotely sensed data to estimate vegetation cover within the home ranges of hens and accounted for factors that influence FCORTm in other vertebrates, such as age and weather. We collected 35 fecal samples from 22 radio-collared hens during the 2017–2018 brood-rearing season (24 May–26 July) in southwestern Idaho (USA). Concentrations of corticosterone increased with home range size but decreased with reproductive effort and temperature. The importance of home range size suggests that maintaining or improving habitats that promote smaller home ranges would likely facilitate a lower stress response by hens, which should benefit Sage-Grouse survival and reproduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- J.C. Rabon
- University of Idaho, 875 Perimeter Drive MS 1136, Moscow, ID 83844-1136, USA
| | - C.M.V. Nuñez
- University of Memphis, 3774 Walker Avenue, Memphis, TN 38152, USA
| | - P.S. Coates
- Western Ecological Research Center, U.S. Geological Survey, 800 Business Park Drive, Dixon, CA 95620, USA
| | - M.A. Ricca
- Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center, U.S. Geological Survey, 777 Northwest Ninth Street #400, Corvallis, OR 97330, USA
| | - T.N. Johnson
- University of Idaho, 875 Perimeter Drive MS 1136, Moscow, ID 83844-1136, USA
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7
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Doherty KE, Boyd CS, Kerby JD, Sitz AL, Foster LJ, Cahill MC, Johnson DD, Sparklin BD. Threat‐Based State and Transition Models Predict Sage‐Grouse Occurrence while Promoting Landscape Conservation. WILDLIFE SOC B 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/wsb.1200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Chad S. Boyd
- USDA Agricultural Research Service & Eastern Oregon Agricultural Research Center Burns OR 97720 USA
| | | | - Angela L. Sitz
- United States Fish and Wildlife Service Bend OR 97701 USA
| | - Lee J. Foster
- Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife Hines OR 97738 USA
| | | | - Dustin D. Johnson
- Oregon State University & Eastern Oregon Agricultural Research Center Burns OR 97720 USA
| | - Bill D. Sparklin
- United States Fish and Wildlife Service Great Falls MT 59404 USA
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8
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Fremgen-Tarantino MR, Olsoy PJ, Frye GG, Connelly JW, Krakauer AH, Patricelli GL, Forbey JS. Assessing accuracy of GAP and LANDFIRE land cover datasets in winter habitats used by greater sage-grouse in Idaho and Wyoming, USA. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2021; 280:111720. [PMID: 33309394 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2020.111720] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2020] [Revised: 11/09/2020] [Accepted: 11/21/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Remotely sensed land cover datasets have been increasingly employed in studies of wildlife habitat use. However, meaningful interpretation of these datasets is dependent on how accurately they estimate habitat features that are important to wildlife. We evaluated the accuracy of the GAP dataset, which is commonly used to classify broad cover categories (e.g., vegetation communities) and LANDFIRE datasets, which classifies narrower cover categories (e.g., plant species) and structural features of vegetation. To evaluate accuracy, we compared classification of cover types and estimates of percent cover and height of sagebrush (Artemisia spp.) derived from GAP and LANDFIRE datasets to field-collected data in winter habitats used by greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus). Accuracy was dependent on the type of dataset used as well as the spatial scale (point, 500-m, and 1-km) and biological level (community versus dominant species) investigated. GAP datasets had the highest overall classification accuracy of broad sagebrush cover types (49.8%) compared to LANDFIRE datasets for narrower cover types (39.1% community-level; 31.9% species-level). Percent cover and height were not accurately estimated in the LANDFIRE dataset. Our results suggest that researchers must be cautious when applying GAP or LANDFIRE datasets to classify narrow categories of land cover types or to predict percent cover or height of sagebrush within sagebrush-dominated landscapes. We conclude that ground-truthing is critical for successful application of land cover datasets in landscape-scale evaluations and management planning, particularly when wildlife use relatively rare habitat types compared to what is available.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Peter J Olsoy
- Department of Biological Sciences, Boise State University, 1910 University Drive, Boise, ID, 83725, USA
| | - Graham G Frye
- Department of Biology and Wildlife, University of Alaska Fairbanks, 982 N. Koyukuk Drive, Fairbanks, AK, 99775, USA
| | | | - Alan H Krakauer
- Department of Evolution and Ecology, University of California, Davis, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | - Gail L Patricelli
- Department of Evolution and Ecology, University of California, Davis, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | - Jennifer Sorensen Forbey
- Department of Biological Sciences, Boise State University, 1910 University Drive, Boise, ID, 83725, USA
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9
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Behavior-specific occurrence patterns of Pinyon Jays (Gymnorhinus cyanocephalus) in three Great Basin study areas and significance for pinyon-juniper woodland management. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0237621. [PMID: 33503032 PMCID: PMC7840058 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0237621] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2020] [Accepted: 12/27/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The Pinyon Jay is a highly social, year-round inhabitant of pinyon-juniper and other coniferous woodlands in the western United States. Range-wide, Pinyon Jays have declined ~ 3–4% per year for at least the last half-century. Occurrence patterns and habitat use of Pinyon Jays have not been well characterized across much of the species’ range, and obtaining this information is necessary for better understanding the causes of ongoing declines and determining useful conservation strategies. Additionally, it is important to better understand if and how targeted removal of pinyon-juniper woodland, a common and widespread vegetation management practice, affects Pinyon Jays. The goal of this study was to identify the characteristics of areas used by Pinyon Jays for several critical life history components in the Great Basin, which is home to nearly half of the species’ global population, and to thereby facilitate the inclusion of Pinyon Jay conservation measures in the design of vegetation management projects. To accomplish this, we studied Pinyon Jays in three widely separated study areas using radio telemetry and direct observation and measured key attributes of their locations and a separate set of randomly-selected control sites using the U. S. Forest Service’s Forest Inventory Analysis protocol. Data visualizations, principle components analysis, and logistic regressions of the resulting data indicated that Pinyon Jays used a distinct subset of available pinyon-juniper woodland habitat, and further suggested that Pinyon Jays used different but overlapping habitats for seed caching, foraging, and nesting. Caching was concentrated in low-elevation, relatively flat areas with low tree cover; foraging occurred at slightly higher elevations with generally moderate but variable tree cover; and nesting was concentrated in slightly higher areas with high tree and vegetation cover. All three of these Pinyon Jay behavior types were highly concentrated within the lower-elevation band of pinyon-juniper woodland close to the woodland-shrubland ecotone. Woodland removal projects in the Great Basin are often concentrated in these same areas, so it is potentially important to incorporate conservation measures informed by Pinyon Jay occurrence patterns into existing woodland management paradigms, protocols, and practices.
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10
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O’Neil ST, Coates PS, Brussee BE, Ricca MA, Espinosa SP, Gardner SC, Delehanty DJ. Wildfire and the ecological niche: Diminishing habitat suitability for an indicator species within semi-arid ecosystems. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2020; 26:6296-6312. [PMID: 32741106 PMCID: PMC7693117 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.15300] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2020] [Accepted: 06/05/2020] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
Globally accelerating frequency and extent of wildfire threatens the persistence of specialist wildlife species through direct loss of habitat and indirect facilitation of exotic invasive species. Habitat specialists may be especially prone to rapidly changing environmental conditions because their ability to adapt lags behind the rate of habitat alteration. As a result, these populations may become increasingly susceptible to ecological traps by returning to suboptimal breeding habitats that were dramatically altered by disturbance. We demonstrate a multistage modeling approach that integrates habitat selection and survival during the key nesting life-stage of a bird species of high conservation concern, the greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus; hereafter, sage-grouse). We applied these spatially explicit models to a spatiotemporally robust dataset of sage-grouse nest locations and fates across wildfire-altered sagebrush ecosystems of the Great Basin ecoregion, western United States. Female sage-grouse exhibited intricate habitat selection patterns that varied across regional gradients of ecological productivity among sagebrush communities, but often selected nest sites that disproportionately resulted in nest failure. For example, 23% of nests occurred in wildfire-affected habitats characterized by reduced sagebrush cover and greater composition of invasive annual grasses. We found survival of nests was negatively associated with wildfire-affected areas, but positively associated with higher elevations with increased ruggedness and overall shrub cover. Strong site fidelity likely drove sage-grouse to continue nesting in habitats degraded by wildfire. Hence, increasing frequency and extent of wildfire may contribute disproportionately to reduced reproductive success by creating ecological traps that act as population sinks. Identifying such habitat mismatches between selection and survival facilitates deeper understanding of the mechanisms driving reduced geographic niche space and population decline at broad spatiotemporal scales, while guiding management actions to areas that would be most beneficial to the species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shawn T. O’Neil
- Western Ecological Research CenterU.S. Geological SurveyDixonCAUSA
| | - Peter S. Coates
- Western Ecological Research CenterU.S. Geological SurveyDixonCAUSA
| | | | - Mark A. Ricca
- Western Ecological Research CenterU.S. Geological SurveyDixonCAUSA
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11
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Coates PS, Brussee BE, Ricca MA, Severson JP, Casazza ML, Gustafson KB, Espinosa SP, Gardner SC, Delehanty DJ. Spatially explicit models of seasonal habitat for greater sage-grouse at broad spatial scales: Informing areas for management in Nevada and northeastern California. Ecol Evol 2020. [PMID: 31993115 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.5842.] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Defining boundaries of species' habitat across broad spatial scales is often necessary for management decisions, and yet challenging for species that demonstrate differential variation in seasonal habitat use. Spatially explicit indices that incorporate temporal shifts in selection can help overcome such challenges, especially for species of high conservation concern. Greater sage-grouse Centrocercus urophasianus (hereafter, sage-grouse), a sagebrush obligate species inhabiting the American West, represents an important case study because sage-grouse exhibit seasonal habitat patterns, populations are declining in most portions of their range and are central to contemporary national land use policies. Here, we modeled spatiotemporal selection patterns for telemetered sage-grouse across multiple study sites (1,084 sage-grouse; 30,690 locations) in the Great Basin. We developed broad-scale spatially explicit habitat indices that elucidated space use patterns (spring, summer/fall, and winter) and accounted for regional climatic variation using previously published hydrographic boundaries. We then evaluated differences in selection/avoidance of each habitat characteristic between seasons and hydrographic regions. Most notably, sage-grouse consistently selected areas dominated by sagebrush with few or no conifers but varied in type of sagebrush selected by season and region. Spatiotemporal variation was most apparent based on availability of water resources and herbaceous cover, where sage-grouse strongly selected upland natural springs in xeric regions but selected larger wet meadows in mesic regions. Additionally, during the breeding period in spring, herbaceous cover was selected strongly in the mesic regions. Lastly, we expanded upon an existing joint-index framework by combining seasonal habitat indices with a probabilistic index of sage-grouse abundance and space use to produce habitat maps useful for sage-grouse management. These products can serve as conservation planning tools that help predict expected benefits of restoration activities, while highlighting areas most critical to sustaining sage-grouse populations. Our joint-index framework can be applied to other species that exhibit seasonal shifts in habitat requirements to help better guide conservation actions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter S Coates
- Western Ecological Research Center U.S. Geological Survey Dixon CA USA
| | - Brianne E Brussee
- Western Ecological Research Center U.S. Geological Survey Dixon CA USA
| | - Mark A Ricca
- Western Ecological Research Center U.S. Geological Survey Dixon CA USA
| | - John P Severson
- Western Ecological Research Center U.S. Geological Survey Dixon CA USA
| | - Michael L Casazza
- Western Ecological Research Center U.S. Geological Survey Dixon CA USA
| | | | | | - Scott C Gardner
- California Department of Fish and Wildlife Sacramento CA USA
| | - David J Delehanty
- Department of Biological Sciences Idaho State University Pocatello ID USA
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12
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Ricca MA, Coates PS. Integrating Ecosystem Resilience and Resistance Into Decision Support Tools for Multi-Scale Population Management of a Sagebrush Indicator Species. Front Ecol Evol 2020. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2019.00493] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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13
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Coates PS, Brussee BE, Ricca MA, Severson JP, Casazza ML, Gustafson KB, Espinosa SP, Gardner SC, Delehanty DJ. Spatially explicit models of seasonal habitat for greater sage-grouse at broad spatial scales: Informing areas for management in Nevada and northeastern California. Ecol Evol 2020; 10:104-118. [PMID: 31993115 PMCID: PMC6972839 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.5842] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2018] [Revised: 04/01/2019] [Accepted: 05/11/2019] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Defining boundaries of species' habitat across broad spatial scales is often necessary for management decisions, and yet challenging for species that demonstrate differential variation in seasonal habitat use. Spatially explicit indices that incorporate temporal shifts in selection can help overcome such challenges, especially for species of high conservation concern. Greater sage-grouse Centrocercus urophasianus (hereafter, sage-grouse), a sagebrush obligate species inhabiting the American West, represents an important case study because sage-grouse exhibit seasonal habitat patterns, populations are declining in most portions of their range and are central to contemporary national land use policies. Here, we modeled spatiotemporal selection patterns for telemetered sage-grouse across multiple study sites (1,084 sage-grouse; 30,690 locations) in the Great Basin. We developed broad-scale spatially explicit habitat indices that elucidated space use patterns (spring, summer/fall, and winter) and accounted for regional climatic variation using previously published hydrographic boundaries. We then evaluated differences in selection/avoidance of each habitat characteristic between seasons and hydrographic regions. Most notably, sage-grouse consistently selected areas dominated by sagebrush with few or no conifers but varied in type of sagebrush selected by season and region. Spatiotemporal variation was most apparent based on availability of water resources and herbaceous cover, where sage-grouse strongly selected upland natural springs in xeric regions but selected larger wet meadows in mesic regions. Additionally, during the breeding period in spring, herbaceous cover was selected strongly in the mesic regions. Lastly, we expanded upon an existing joint-index framework by combining seasonal habitat indices with a probabilistic index of sage-grouse abundance and space use to produce habitat maps useful for sage-grouse management. These products can serve as conservation planning tools that help predict expected benefits of restoration activities, while highlighting areas most critical to sustaining sage-grouse populations. Our joint-index framework can be applied to other species that exhibit seasonal shifts in habitat requirements to help better guide conservation actions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter S. Coates
- Western Ecological Research CenterU.S. Geological SurveyDixonCAUSA
| | | | - Mark A. Ricca
- Western Ecological Research CenterU.S. Geological SurveyDixonCAUSA
| | - John P. Severson
- Western Ecological Research CenterU.S. Geological SurveyDixonCAUSA
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14
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Parejo M, Gutiérrez JS, Navedo JG, Soriano-Redondo A, Abad-Gómez JM, Villegas A, Corbacho C, Sánchez-Guzmán JM, Masero JA. Day and night use of habitats by northern pintails during winter in a primary rice-growing region of Iberia. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0220400. [PMID: 31344107 PMCID: PMC6658120 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0220400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2019] [Accepted: 07/14/2019] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Loss of natural wetlands is a global phenomenon that has severe consequences for waterbird populations and their associated ecosystem services. Although agroecosystems can reduce the impact of natural habitat loss, drivers of use of such artificial habitats by waterbirds remain poorly understood. Using the cosmopolitan northern pintail Anas acuta as a model species, we monitored home-range and fine-scale resource selection across the agricultural landscape. Individuals were tracked using GPS-GSM transmitters, and a suite of environmental and landscape features were measured throughout the winter seasons. Spatial patterns of habitat use were analysed using generalized linear mixed effect models by integrating field-observations with GPS telemetry. All birds used rice fields as foraging grounds at night and commuted to an adjacent reservoir to roost during daylight. Home-ranges and maximum foraging distances of nocturnally foraging birds increased with decreasing availability of flooded fields, and were positively correlated with moonlight levels. Birds selected flooded rice paddies (water depth range: 9–21 cm) with standing stubble and substrate with pebbles smaller than 0.5 cm in diameter. Density of rice seeds, rice paddy size, and other environmental and landscape features did not emerge as significant predictors. Our findings indicate that nocturnal foraging of northern pintails within rice fields is driven primarily by straw manipulation, water level and substrate pebble size. Thus, the presence of standing stubble in flooded paddies with soft bottoms should be prioritized to improve foraging areas for dabbling ducks. These management procedures in themselves would not increase economic costs or affect rice production and could be applied for dabbling-duck conservation throughout the world.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuel Parejo
- Conservation Biology Research Group, Department of Anatomy, Cell Biology and Zoology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Extremadura, Badajoz, Spain
- * E-mail:
| | - Jorge S. Gutiérrez
- Conservation Biology Research Group, Department of Anatomy, Cell Biology and Zoology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Extremadura, Badajoz, Spain
- Centro de Estudos do Ambiente e do Mar (CESAM), Departamento de Biologia Animal, Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Juan G. Navedo
- Conservation Biology Research Group, Department of Anatomy, Cell Biology and Zoology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Extremadura, Badajoz, Spain
- Instituto de Ciencias Marinas y Limnológicas, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile
| | - Andrea Soriano-Redondo
- Conservation Biology Research Group, Department of Anatomy, Cell Biology and Zoology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Extremadura, Badajoz, Spain
- Centre for Ecology and Conservation, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Cornwall, United Kingdom
| | - José M. Abad-Gómez
- Conservation Biology Research Group, Department of Anatomy, Cell Biology and Zoology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Extremadura, Badajoz, Spain
| | - Auxiliadora Villegas
- Conservation Biology Research Group, Department of Anatomy, Cell Biology and Zoology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Extremadura, Badajoz, Spain
| | - Casimiro Corbacho
- Conservation Biology Research Group, Department of Anatomy, Cell Biology and Zoology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Extremadura, Badajoz, Spain
| | - Juan M. Sánchez-Guzmán
- Conservation Biology Research Group, Department of Anatomy, Cell Biology and Zoology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Extremadura, Badajoz, Spain
| | - José A. Masero
- Conservation Biology Research Group, Department of Anatomy, Cell Biology and Zoology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Extremadura, Badajoz, Spain
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Chambers JC, Allen CR, Cushman SA. Operationalizing Ecological Resilience Concepts for Managing Species and Ecosystems at Risk. Front Ecol Evol 2019. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2019.00241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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Chambers JC, Brooks ML, Germino MJ, Maestas JD, Board DI, Jones MO, Allred BW. Operationalizing Resilience and Resistance Concepts to Address Invasive Grass-Fire Cycles. Front Ecol Evol 2019. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2019.00185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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